G - Sizing and protection of conductors

3 Determination of voltage drop

Copper cables Aluminium cables

c.s.a. in Single-phase circuit Balanced three-phase circuit c.s.a. in Single-phase circuit Balanced three-phase circuit
mm² Motor power Lighting Motor power Lighting mm² Motor power Lighting Motor power Lighting
Normal Start-up Normal Start-up Normal Start-up Normal Start-up
service service service service
cos φ = cos φ = cos φ = cos φ = cos φ = cos φ = cos φ = cos φ = cos φ = cos φ = cos φ = cos φ =
0.8 0.35 1 0.8 0.35 1 0.8 0.35 1 0.8 0.35 1
1.5 25.4 11.2 32 33 9.7 27
2.5 15.3 6.8 19 13.2 5.9 16
4 9.6 4.3 11.9 8.3 3.7 10.3 6 10.1 4.5 12.5 8.8 3.9 10.9
6 6.4 2.9 7.9 5.6 2.5 6.8 10 6.1 2.8 7.5 5.3 2.4 6.5
10 3.9 1.8 4.7 3.4 1.6 4.1 16 3.9 1.8 4.7 3.3 1.6 4.1
16 2.5 1.2 3 2.1 1 2.6 25 2.50 1.2 3 2.2 1 2.6
25 1.6 0.81 1.9 1.4 0.70 1.6 35 1.8 0.90 2.1 1.6 1.78 1.9
35 1.18 0.62 1.35 1 0.54 1.2 50 1.4 0.70 1.6 1.18 0.61 1.37
50 0.89 0.50 1.00 0.77 0.43 0.86 70 0.96 0.53 1.07 0.83 0.46 0.93
70 0.64 0.39 0.68 0.55 0.34 0.59 120 0.60 0.37 0.63 0.52 0.32 0.54
95 0.50 0.32 0.50 0.43 0.28 0.43 150 0.50 0.33 0.50 0.43 0.28 0.43
120 0.41 0.29 0.40 0.36 0.25 0.34 185 0.42 0.29 0.41 0.36 0.25 0.35
150 0.35 0.26 0.32 0.30 0.23 0.27 240 0.35 0.26 0.31 0.30 0.22 0.27
185 0.30 0.24 0.26 0.26 0.21 0.22 300 0.30 0.24 0.25 0.26 0.21 0.22
240 0.25 0.22 0.20 0.22 0.19 0.17 400 0.25 0.22 0.19 0.21 0.19 0.16
300 0.22 0.12 0.16 0.19 0.18 0.14 500 0.22 0.20 0.15 0.19 0.18 0.13

Fig. G30 Phase-to-phase voltage drop ΔU for a circuit, in volts per ampere per km
G21
Examples
Example 1 (see Fig. G31)
A three-phase 35 mm2 copper cable 50 metres long supplies a 400 V motor taking:
DB422313_EN.eps

1000 A b 100 A at a cos φ = 0.8 on normal permanent load

b 500 A (5 In) at a cos φ = 0.35 during start-up
The voltage drop at the origin of the motor cable in normal circumstances (i.e. with
400 V
the distribution board of Fig. G31 distributing a total of 1000 A) is 10 V phase-to-
phase.
What is the voltage drop at the motor terminals:
b In normal service?
b During start-up?
Solution:
50 m / 35 mm² Cu
b Voltage drop in normal service conditions:
IB = 100 A
(500 A during start-up) ∆U
∆U% = 100
Un
Table G30 shows 1 V/A/km so that:
ΔU for the cable = 1 x 100 x 0.05 = 5 V
ΔU total = 10 + 5 = 15 V = i.e.
15
x 100 = 3.75 %
400
This value is less than that authorized (8 %) and is satisfactory.
b Voltage drop during motor start-up:
Fig. G31 Example 1 ΔUcable = 0.54 x 500 x 0.05 = 13.5 V
Owing to the additional current taken by the motor when starting, the voltage drop
at the distribution board will exceed 10 Volts.
Supposing that the infeed to the distribution board during motor starting is
900 + 500 = 1400 A then the voltage drop at the distribution board will increase
approximately pro rata, i.e.
10 x 1400
= 14 V
1000
ΔU distribution board = 14 V
ΔU for the motor cable = 13 V
ΔU total = 13.5 + 14 = 27.5 V i.e.
27.5 x 100 = 6.9 %
400
a value which is satisfactory during motor starting.
Electrical installation guide 2018
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